Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-10
WEST CONVICTED.
Judge Macarthur COngratulates the
Jury and the COmmunisy,

The trial of the ex-clerk, John L West, on the
charge of HOUSEKEEPING with intent to commit
rape on the person OF Mrs. Mary /. Page on the
Goth OF November last, was concluded in the
Criminal court, Judge Macarthur, last evening by
q verdict OF guilty as indicted, with recommend
alton to mercy on the ground Of the prisoners
previous good character. There was large crowd
In the court room when the jury came In at 6:10
O'Clock and announced the verdict.
Mr. Cahin, for the prisoner, gave notice OF mo-
ton for a new trial, and said that he would file
the papers within the time allowed.
Judge Macarthur said that in the meantime no
action would be taken in regard to passing SEN
tence He remanded West into the custody Of the
marshal, and the prisoner was subsequently taken
to jail.
the verdict as he said it showed that case Of this
kind can be tried with the same impartiaity as Is
shown in other cases. He spoke OF the dastardly
other communities where passions are Influenced
by circumstances similar to some of these existing
IN this 81 on5 ne
ton can be tried under the peaceful searching
process of the law. The defendant has been con-
indicted by the grand jury, arraigned, had an i'm
partial trial, and been most ably defended by
Character can be- more peacefSy tried Vi here Than
in some other Jurisdictions" circumstance upon
which he thought the community should be con-
graduated. "Where the circumstances Justify q
conviction 1t can be obtained here by prosecuting
in court OF Justice instead OF invoking the aid Of
the mob and lynch law. 1t Is upon this aspect Of
this community" AT the conclusion of the judges
remarks the jurors were discharged.
THE LEGAL PENALTIES.
The act OF July IL, 1882 {the HOUSEKEEPING
act), prescr1bes in the first section maximum
punishment Of ten years Imprisonment, and il
the second section-breaking with intent to
destroy property, kill, MAIN or aSSault-nOt over
fifteen years, and the punishment for assault to
commit rape is from one to five years.
Swelling the List Of Arrests.
HOW WASHINGTON GETs A BAD NAME-wHY FIVE
SMALL BOYS WERE ARRESTED AND FINED.
In order that the two or three hundred news
boys who sell THE EVENING STAR should not gather
about in squads on Pennsylvania avenue every
afternoon an arrangement was made by which
they were to assemble. at 18th and Streets one
square below the old ComiQue building. This,
however, did not seem TO satisfy the police, for
yesterday afternoon Officer Breen arrested Ave
small cOlOred boys there and charged them in the
Police Court this morning with obstructing the
pavement. The officer gave testimony against
they had anything to say for themselves or not,
were fined five dollars each.
The judge said: ''ThiS is an Illustration of how
the city gets such bad name in respect to the
morals OF minors. don't suppose that there is
any other city in the world where such boys as
these would be arrested and prosecuted. think 1t
goes to the credit OF the city for preserving good
Order but these StatiStcianS gObble the arrests up
for another purpose, and make it appear that this
Is the worst city in the world, when, In fact the
order OF this city is as good not better, than in
Others"
disorderly conduct, loud talking and obstructing
the street, which will still further assist the sta
tiSticanS in making it appear that there is terrible
depravity among the youths in this city.